Float rack

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a rack for storing floats. A float rack may comprise a vertical support post, a plurality of slip-T joints and a plurality of float support arms. The vertical support post may have a top end and a bottom end. The slip-T joints are connected to the vertical support post to provide a rotating joint about the vertical support post. The float support arms are attached to the slip-T joints.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/561,183 filed Sep. 16, 2009 and entitled “Float Rack,” whichis incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to storage systems, and in particularto storage of floatation devices.

BACKGROUND

A standard closed foam float design includes a pillow formed by a loopin the foam material. Such floats are often difficult to store and causeclutter near pools, in garages, or on boats.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a rack forstoring floats. A float rack may comprise a vertical support post, aplurality of slip-Ts and a plurality of float support arms. The verticalsupport post will typically have a top end and a bottom end. The slip-Tsare connected to the vertical support post to provide a rotating jointabout the vertical support post. The float support arms are attached tothe slip-Ts.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features,reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a float rack installed to a building near a swimmingpool;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the float rack of FIG. 1 with a float;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a float rack with a float;

FIG. 4 is a close-up of a float rack with two floats;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the float rack of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of a float rack;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the float rack in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of a float rack;

FIG. 9 is a top view of float rack in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the float rack in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a view of a float, rack 10 with floats 12 installed on abuilding 14 near a swimming pool 16. Float rack 10 has three arms 18sized to support floats 12 as shown. Float rack 10 is mounted to anoutside wall of building 14 in the figure shown, but may be mountedinside, as in a garage or storage area. Floats 12 are common closed cellfoam floats with a loop forming a headrest 20. Arms 18 are sized to fitwithin headrest 20 of float 12.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the float rack 10 of FIG. 1 with a float 12hanging by headrest 20 off of arm 18. Arm 18 is shown to have ribbing 22in its outer surface. Ribbing 22 provides an improved aesthetic andallows for easy sliding of headrest 20 over arm 18. Arm 18 also has anend cap 24 to seal the arm 18 and provide for a smooth end. Arms 18 areattached to slip-Ts 26 which rotate about a vertical support post 28.Vertical support post 28 has an upper end 30 and a lower end 32, eachhaving an end cap 24.

Near the upper end 30 of vertical support post 28 is a fixed-T 34attached to upper support 36. A surface mount 38 is connected to theupper support 36 opposite the fixed-T 34. Near the lower end 32 ofvertical support post 28 is another fixed-T 34 attached to a lowersupport 40. Another surface mount 38 is connected to the lower support40 opposite the fixed-T 34. Lower support 40 is slightly longer thanupper support 36 to allow arms 18 to be aligned on one side of verticalsupport post 28 with multiple floats 12.

Screws 42 are placed adjacent to slip-Ts 26 to prevent unwanted axialmovement along vertical support post while allowing rotation of slip-Ts26 about vertical support post 28.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a float rack with a float 12 and twice asmany arms 12 as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Vertical support post 28 is elongatedto allow for two slip-Ts 26 between the fixed-T 34 and the upper end 30of vertical support post 28. A single screw 42 is still sufficient torestrain unwanted axial movement as slip-Ts rotate against each otherwithout interference. Likewise two slip-Ts 26 are positioned between thefixed-T and the lower end 32 of vertical support post 28. Similarly twoslip-Ts 26 are positioned near the middle of vertical support post 28between fixed-Ts 34.

Again, lower support 40 is slightly longer than upper support 36 toallow three arms 18 to be aligned on each side of vertical support post28 with multiple floats 12.

FIG. 4 is a close-up of a float, rack 10 with two floats 12 hanging byheadrests 20. In this embodiment the slip-Ts 26 are arranged alongvertical support post 28 between fixed-Ts 34. The uppermost arm 18 issimilar to those discussed with regards to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The threelower arms 18 each have an elbow 44 on arm 18 and a spacing member 46,48, 50 between the elbows 44 and the slip-Ts 26. The spacing element 46is shorter than spacing element 48 which is in turn shorter than spacingelement 50. Thus spacing elements 46, 48, 50 act to stagger arms 18 andprovide space for floats 12. Thus upper support 36 and lower support 40may be the same length.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the float rack 10 of FIG. 4 more clearly showingthe different lengths of spacing elements 46, 48, 50 and the resultantspacing of arms 18.

FIG. 6 is a view of a float rack 60 having a vertical support post 28and three fixed-Ts 34 supporting pairs of arms 18 with end caps 24. Thefixed-Ts 34 are arranged to provide an even distribution of arms 18 asshown in FIG. 7. Vertical support post 28 is secured in base 52.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the float rack 60 in FIG. 6 showing thearrangement of arms 18.

FIG. 8 is a view of a float rack 70 having a vertical support post 78and a base 52. Slip-Ts 26 support arms 18 with end caps 24. Support post78 may be a composite support post made of an outer support post 54 andan inner support post 56, as shown in FIG. 10. In the alternative,vertical support post 78 may be a single element with a screw below theslip-Ts 26 from unwanted axially movement.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the float rack 70 in FIG. 8 showing that arms 18may rotate independently about vertical support post 78.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the float rack 70 in FIG. 8 showing acomposite version of vertical support post 78. The composite version ofvertical support post 78 has an outer support post 54 extending frombase 52 to the bottom of slip-Ts 26. Inner support post 56 extends frombase 52 to the top of slip-Ts 26. Slip-Ts 26 are sized to fit aboutinner post 56 but not slide over outer post 54 such that the terminus ofouter post 54 forms a shoulder to support slip-Ts 26. Inner post 56 runsthe entire length of outer post 54 to provide additional rigidity tovertical support post 7

All of the above embodiments, or parts thereof, may be made with athermoplastic polymer to prevent corrosion and rusting. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is a suitable material for these embodiments andfurniture grade PVC is useful where a thicker wall is desired. It ispossible to obtain furniture grade PVC with a colorant treatmentthroughout the material, to provide a more pleasant appearance andprotection from fading, cracking, and brittleness. Where screws 40 arerequired they may be made of stainless steel to provide a non-corrosivealternative that has sufficient strength.

It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used in this patent document. The terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generallyassociated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodimentsand methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,the above description of example embodiments does not define orconstrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterationsare also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure, as defined by the following claims.

1. A float rack for storing floats, each float having a headrest, thefloat rack comprising: a vertical support post having a top end and abottom end; an upper support extending horizontally from the top end ofthe vertical support post, the upper support having a length; a lowersupport extending horizontally from the bottom end of the verticalsupport post, the lower support having a length that is longer than thelength of the upper support; a plurality of slip-T joints connected tothe vertical support post to provide a joint that rotates about thevertical support post; a plurality of float support arms, each floatsupport arm being attached to one of the plurality of slip-T joints;each float support arm comprising ribbed material to allow easy slidingof a headrest over the float support arm; an upper surface mount securedto the upper support; a lower surface mount secured to the lowersupport; wherein the upper surface mount and the lower surface mountfixedly secure the float rack to a supporting wall; wherein the verticalsupport post is disposed at an angle with respect to the supporting wallwhen the float rack is secured to the supporting wall; and wherein thefloat support arms align the floats substantially parallel to thesupporting wall when stored
 2. The float rack of claim 1 wherein: thevertical support post and the float support arms are constructed of PVCpipe.
 3. The float rack of claim 1 wherein: the upper support and thelower support are each joined to the vertical support with a fixed-Tjoint
 4. A float rack for storing floats, each float having a headrest,the float rack comprising: a vertical support post having a top end anda bottom end; an upper support extending horizontally from the top endof the vertical support post, the upper support having a length; a lowersupport extending horizontally from the bottom end of the verticalsupport post, the lower support having a length that is longer than thelength of the upper support; and a plurality of float support arms, eachfloat support being rotatably attached to the vertical support post;wherein the vertical support post is disposed at an angle with respectto a supporting wall when the float rack is secured to the supportingwall via the upper support and the lower support.
 5. The float rack ofclaim 4 wherein: wherein the float rack is configured such that floatssupported by two or more float support arms positioned on one side ofthe vertical support are aligned substantially parallel to thesupporting wall.
 6. The float rack of claim 4 wherein: an upper surfacemount and a lower surface mount fixedly secure the float rack to thesupporting wall via the upper support and the lower support.
 7. A floatrack for storing floats, the float rack comprising: a vertical supportpost disposed at an angle with respect to the supporting wall when thefloat rack is secured to the supporting wall; and a plurality of floatsupport arms rotatably coupled to the vertical support post.
 8. Thefloat rack of claim 7 further comprising: an upper support extendinghorizontally from the top end of the vertical support post toward thesupporting wall, the upper support having a length; and a lower supportextending horizontally from the bottom end of the vertical support posttoward the supporting wall, the lower support having a length that islonger than the length of the upper support.
 9. The float rack of claim8 further comprising: an upper surface mount secured to the uppersupport; and a lower surface mount secured to the lower support.
 10. Thefloat rack of claim 9 wherein: the upper surface mount and the lowersurface mount couple the float rack to the supporting wall.
 11. Thefloat rack of claim 7 wherein: wherein the float rack is configured suchthat floats supported by two or more float support arms positioned onone side of the vertical support are aligned substantially parallel tothe supporting wall.